Road classification
How OwnHomeMap turns source road classes into a visual hierarchy
By Theo
Mapping reviewed
OwnHomeMap converts source-specific road classes into one internal visual hierarchy; it does not claim to measure physical road width. When automatic mode is configured, OpenFreeMap/OpenMapTiles transportation.class values are normalized: motorway, trunk, primary, secondary and tertiary retain their class; minor becomes residential; service, path and track join the fine default. If automatic mode falls back to direct OpenStreetMap/Overpass, highway tags are normalized similarly: link variants follow their parents, residential, living_street and unclassified form the local class, while service, pedestrian, footway, cycleway, path and track form the fine default. The renderer presents five main visual levels: motorway; trunk and primary; secondary; tertiary; and local or minor ways. At wider extents, a radius gate omits minor ways before rendering. Themes change colors, while fixed widths correspond to internal road types. OpenStreetMap classes express network function in local contexts, and OpenMapTiles defines its own source schema. This hierarchy is a documented design normalization, not a universal legal or physical classification.
Supported visual groups
- OpenMapTiles
- transportation.class is normalized from the primary OpenFreeMap tiles.
- OpenStreetMap
- highway tags are normalized on the direct Overpass fallback path.
- Main levels
- motorway; trunk and primary; secondary; tertiary; local or minor ways
- Radius gate
- eligible minor ways are included only at shorter viewing radii
How to read the hierarchy
Relative, not physical
A stronger line denotes a higher visual class; it is not a measured carriageway width.
Source normalization
Supported classes from either data path map to the same internal road types before theme styling.
Scale-aware detail
Minor paths are limited at wider extents to avoid turning the poster into an unreadable mesh.
Limits to keep in mind
- Road tags are community-maintained and their application can vary between countries and contributors.
- A missing or differently tagged way may be omitted or placed in another visual class.
- The hierarchy is designed for visual composition and cannot establish road access, surface, speed, or legal status.